Thoughts on Stage I

Before we get started, please watch this video:

We all have past experiences with English, writing, and literacy development. The aim of our first essay assignment, your Literacy Narrative, is to explore your past and figure out how YOU fit into this conversation about "Writing Studies" this "English Thing" come together.

Next, review the "Writing Assignments" tab and read the information under STAGE I. This should give you a good idea as to where to start your assignment. Really, there are four things I'm looking for:

• A well-told narrative about your literacy
• Vivid details throughout the paper
• An explanation of how this literacy narrative effects who you are as a writer today (significance, the big "So What?")
• A connection to the greater discourse of writing studies, either implicit or explicit.

Still have questions, comments, concerns? Remember, this blog is YOUR space. Feel free to continue the conversation below in the comments section. I'll be popping in throughout the weekend, too, to offer assistance, as will your peers. We can't help if you don't ask, so, ask away! 

Still lost?

I really hate giving examples, mainly because I don't want you to try to emulate one way of writing. The key to this assignment is finding YOUR way. As we've discussed in class, writing is so very CONTENT and CONTEXT specific, and your content and context are all different. That being said, if you'd like to see ONE WAY that ONE AUTHOR decided to approach this assignment, you can view a sample here:

Writing Doesn't Happen in a Vacuum

Again, this is by no means a perfect paper, and if yours looks completely and totally different, that's ok. Just keep in mind those four main points above!

First drafts (can be "shitty") are due when we return from Labor Day on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER  4TH. We'll be conducting peer review in class, so please bring 3 COPIES. If you don't have your copies, you won't be able to participate in peer review, and you'll lose points :'(

Remember -- feel free to post any questions, concerns, or even maybe paragraphs from your essay below! Let's keep the conversation going outside the classroom.

Engage!

Introductions

This is a good example of properly using "choose"
and "chose," two very commonly misspelled words.
I also really like cats.

Introduce yourself here! It's probably the easiest assignment of the semester.

You can share anything you'd like, but be sure to include your name and SOMETHING related to writing, reading, or learning from your past or present. You can add other information, too, like a fun fact or something interesting about yourself. Put your introduction in the comments section. This is mainly so I can a. get to know you and b. make sure everyone has access to the blog. \

I'll be brave and go first:

My name's Katie, but you can call me Professor Hoerth, which, by the way, is pronounced like Earth but with an H in front. It's super easy! But don't worry, you can mispronounce my name all you'd like. I've always loved to write -- I remember when I was in high school, my favorite subject was English, though I was actually not very "good" at it. I had trouble following writing rules, and I'm a really, really terrible speller (I'm sure you'll notice it up on the board throughout the semester). But even so, I always thought of myself as a "good" writer because even though sometimes my writing was (is) messy, I use it as a way to explore my thoughts and ideas. My favorite type of writing is poetry, but no worries, you won't be having to write poetry for this class.

Aside from poetry, my other hobbies include blogging (yay!), baking, and running. Oh and here's a fun fact: I'm a vegetarian.

Please have your posts up before Wednesday, August 28th.

Welcome to English 1301/1320!

Professor Hoerth needs this shirt...

I'm excited to get this semester started, and I hope you are too. It's going to be a wild ride, but that'll begin shortly. How about in the meantime, you mosey on over to the COURSE SYLLABUS to see what the semester's going to be all about? That way, you'll get a better idea as to what to expect from our class this semester.

I always say, taking a class without reading the syllbus is kinda like marrying someone without getting to know them first! After census date, you're stuck with me. Harharhar. So anyway, check it out, ok? And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.